Kerusso Daily Devotional

Roaming, travel, wandering…all have been part of the human psyche since the beginning. Because we all have that God-shaped hole in us, needing to be filled with Him, we search.   Some find God, and some don’t.   The sense of aimlessness and lack of purpose haunts some. We think of the classic novel “On the Road,” which is the story of two characters traveling the country. At first, the lure of fre...

Have you ever wondered what your place in this world is?   Of course, you have. That’s the human experience. Alone with our thoughts, we wonder who we even are, and what we’re meant to do. It’s a mysterious journey, but the fog lifts and the way becomes clear when we get to know King Jesus.   Ephesians 2:10 says, “For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepar...

We as people tend to be goal-oriented. Even if you think you’re not, you really are.    Maybe you don’t have a burning ambition to work in finance on Wall Street, or you aren’t going to be a pro athlete any time soon. But you do want to earn a living for your family. Hey, maybe you even want to get your chores finished before your favorite show comes on TV.   Sometimes, this love of goals can trip...

Francis was just 6 weeks old when she became ill in the spring of 1820. The family doctor was out of town, and a charlatan pretending to be a doctor prescribed a treatment that rendered the baby completely blind, although she recovered from the initial illness. A few months later, her father died, and her mother went to work as a maid to support the family. She was raised by her grandmother, a dev...

Tim closed his laptop and wondered what to do next.   He had a degree. Great job experience. Enthusiasm and passion for his work… But the job market was tough in his new hometown, and his savings was running out fast.   “Lord,” he prayed, “please help me find a job. You know my talents, and what I need to help support my family. Please provide.”   He’d been praying this same prayer daily, but no j...

Judson Van DeVenter was an art teacher and artist when he became a layman in the Episcopal-Methodist Church. He was passionate about his work, but also actively devoted to the evangelistic meetings held at his church.    Seeing his abilities, Judson’s friends urged him to quit his job and become an evangelist. For five years, he wavered between the ministry and seeking recognition as an artist. He...

Nick Vujicic, born without arms and legs, faced obstacles few could fathom. Less than 10 people worldwide have this condition. He’s now a person of faith, and one of the top motivational speakers in the world.    Oh—and he’s married with four kids.  Oh—and he graduated from college with a double major.    Nick, now 35, was born with a condition known as Tetra Amelia syndrome. Not surprisingly, he...

The action of sharing the Good News—the Great Commission—means that we don’t just sit in our houses and shut away the world.   Scripture is an action item.   Isaiah 60:1 says, “Arise, shine, for your light has come, and the glory of the LORD rises upon you.”   If the Bible is true—if God’s story intersects with our story—then a hurting world is in need of a Savior. The pain many are enduring will...

If you’ve ever wondered what the best way might be to share your faith and defend it in the modern world, it might help to look at past examples.   In the Bible, the husband-and-wife team of Priscilla and Aquila shared Christ with Apollos, who would become a famous early evangelist. In colonial England, the abolitionist William Wilberforce shamed his own government into freeing slaves.   Jude 1:3...

Defending your faith can sometimes be a subjective thing. As examples of extremes, we’ve seen the Crusades, and at the other end of the spectrum, it’s perhaps an aggressive “pitch” to someone who isn’t a believer.   The thing is, it’s great to be zealous for our faith, but let’s also be disciplined. We don’t want to alienate a person who might otherwise listen. To put it simply: an angry Christian...

In every generation, it falls to believers to spend time in defending our worldview as Christians. And honestly, it’s not the nicest part of the gig—but it is part of the gig. Usually, it involves simply explaining what your faith is all about.    Followers of other religions do the same thing, but for us, we’re sharing the person of Christ with someone who may not know Him. That makes it a big de...

Most of us feel a deep respect in our hearts for those who have sacrificed so that we can remain free. Loving those who have paid the ultimate price is just something we do as people. We pause to remember each year.   Isaiah 56:5 says, “To them I will give within my temple and its walls a memorial and a name better than sons and daughters; I will give them an everlasting name that will endure fore...

Who do you put your faith in?   In the 1930s, as war approached in Europe, the British loved their monarchs. The royal family has been beloved for generations, and King Edward the 8th was ready to take his place on the throne after the death of his father.   The people loved the dashing young king, and he seemed to enjoy his role. And then he fell in love.   Falling in love isn’t a bad thing of co...

If Genesis describes the beginnings of the Lion of the Tribe of Judah, the book of Revelation finishes the story.   Revelation 19 tells us a descendent of Judah, Jacob’s son, will one day come and rule the whole world. And He will be unlike any other king in history.   1 Timothy 1:17, “All honor and glory to God forever and ever! He is the eternal King, the unseen one who never dies; he alone is G...

In the Bible, we read of family records that were the original genealogy sources. People knew where they came from, knew their kin. The 12 tribes of Israel were first outlined in Genesis, and from these 12 came an entire nation.   Even Jesus came from somewhere!   One of the Bible’s patriarchs, Jacob, had a son named Judah. The father calls the son a lion’s cub, and blesses him. Judah is told he w...

Have you ever heard of the legendary English king, Arthur? An iconic figure in history, he led a defense of his country against Saxon invaders around 1,500 years ago. He has also been immortalized in literature.   There’s only one problem: We don’t know if he actually existed. We certainly don’t know where he’s buried. And it’s a sure thing that King Arthur, if he lived, wasn’t history’s greatest...

Do you know Who Jesus is? Do you really understand His identity?   We know from the Bible that He is many things: a child, a carpenter, a leader of men. We know that He is our Savior, the One who went to the cross to take on our sin.   He is also our King.   1 Timothy 1:17, “All honor and glory to God forever and ever! He is the eternal King, the unseen one who never dies; he alone is God. Amen.”...

Today we wrap up our series on finding contentment by discussing the source of true peace and happiness.    John MacArthur once wrote a book called Our Sufficiency in Christ. In it, he revealed the path to finding true peace and contentment, and he says there’s a single word that encompasses all the riches we find in Christ: Grace. What a magnificent word it is. It’s used more than 150 times in th...

Today’s message is really about taking the long view.    The human attention span is short, like really, really short. Between the world wars, Winston Churchill warned Europe that Hitler was a threat to the continent at least, but people ignored him. And then when the Nazis turned violent, the people turned to Churchill as their prime minister.    Having led the country through another costly war...

The big question for today is, can we find contentment in things?    Have you ever listened to a very successful person complain about the fact that his wealth doesn’t make him happy? How the success of life has left him or her empty? Of course, you have. We’ve all heard stories like that, but pay attention to that—because it’s really important.    Watch people roll their eyes when they hear those...

Today, our big question is, can we find contentment in relationships?    How many times has this scene been repeated? A guy sees a girl he can’t live without. He thinks she will bring him happiness—and for a while, that's how it plays out. But then one day he’s melancholy just like he used to be. Or how about the woman who believes marriage will fulfill her heart’s desires, but then over time...

The diversity of life on this planet is astonishing, good, bad, beautiful, painful. Our world is a place of blessing and it’s also a struggle for a lot of people. Each of us has a whole batch of issues to deal with every day, ranging from physical challenges to emotional needs. And a fascinating element in all this is how we see contentment.    What is it?  Where is it found?  Is it lasting?   Mat...

Jane was the last child to receive a handmade blanket from her great grandmother. Pink and blue, festooned with angels and sprinkled with stars that sparkled in the light, the much-loved blanket was the little girl’s constant companion.   This childhood treasure became even more important when Gramma Ann passed away—a reminder of her love for her family, and her faith in God.   Jane’s blanket kept...

Sandra was a single mom with little family support. Her ex was not exactly helping repair a tough situation. Her days slowed down only late at night when everyone else was asleep. That’s when fear got into bed with her…and wouldn’t budge.   Psalm 23:4 tells us, “Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil; for You are with me; Your rod and Your staff, they com...

Are you a woman blessed with the gift of a wonderful mother-in-law? We can hardly think of a more important relationship. Through the ages, this mentoring friendship has sealed families and nurtured them. Likewise, we easily see the pain inflicted when this relationship isn’t good.   In the Old Testament, we read of a really remarkable mother-in-law. She showed great kindness to a young woman at j...